The GREAT HIPPOPOTAMUS HOTEL by author Alexander McCall Smith. When I read the first book, the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, I knew it was a special kind of cosy. An unassuming story that I'll keep coming back to time and again.
That's the kind of pull cosy mysteries have especially when they're built around characters who become a part of a much-loved part of your reading memory.
In this latest story, now a long-running series of 20+ books, we meet again with Mma Ramotswe, her colleague Mma Makutsi and a fresh case. A local Botswana hotel, after which the title is placed, has been passed on to the next generation. Though the change of ownership is quite straightforward and expected to create no waves in its running, there's trouble. Babusi the manager is expected to carry on as usual and have free rein running the hotel.
So it's surprising when he enrolls Mma Ramotswe and her detective services to find out who's behind the recent wave of troubles at the hotel. Will it be another simple case for the owner and her colleague or trouble from the hotel follow them too? Do pick up a copy though you will be surprised and it's a quick read too.
I enjoyed -
- The setting, Botswana, is something I enjoy reading about and having every time I visit any story in this series. What I love about it is, is its almost calm serene facade of a small community away, far away from the bustle and noise of a city. That's because though it's a country and our story is set in a part of it geographically, it has a small village vibe.
- Where everyone knows everyone and though it seems all pretty and calm on the surface, there's always drama under the surface. So we get more than we expected, while Mma Ramotswe is out of action her colleague does most of the leg work on the hotel case. While resting too though Mma Ramotswe helps her husband solve one of his customer's difficult family situations.
- The characters never fail to charm me be it Mma Ramotswe as always and her husband in the background or the new one like the little boy who rarely speaks in this story. Also, the acceptance these characters have for eating cake and spending good time with friends over tea is so underrated and heartwarming all at the same time.
- The mystery part in this was almost tricky and for a newbie might be unsolvable. I loved how Mma went about unraveling the troubles of the hotel.
If you are in the mood for a whodunnit, cosy mystery which is also a quick read and set in an African country, this is the read for you. Happy reading.
In this latest installment of Alexander McCall Smith’s beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi take on an intriguing new case and uncover surprising truthsIn the rolling hills just outside Gaborone, surrounded by a grove of acacia trees, lies The Great Hippopotamus Hotel. With spacious rooms overlooking the Botswanan countryside and a fine and loyal staff, the hotel has served as a refuge to weary travelers for many years. But a sudden string of misfortunes threatens to ruin the hotel’s reputation. Food poisoning befalls an unlucky diner, laundry mysteriously disappears from the drying line, and a scorpion stings one of the guests. Mishap after mishap, until it seems these incidents are more than simple coincidences—something foul is afoot.Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi are on the case to find out who could be responsible for these unfortunate events. The answer at first seems clear, especially when they find out Violet Sephotho is involved. But as they dig deeper, they realize that the solution is not as simple as it initially seems. Meanwhile, one of Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni’s most important clients has asked him to source a sports car, putting him in a ticklish position as the man’s wife seems to be unaware of the purchase and the client is taking great pains to keep it that way. Nevertheless, with a healthy dose of good humor and kindness, Mma Ramotswe and her associates must help restore the reputation of the hotel and prove that even the most difficult situations can be remedied with honesty and compassion.
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